Description
Aquamarine, Heated, Nuggets, Matte Finish, Nice Blue
This price is for one strand 15-16 inches long
Approximately 45 pieces with average size of 10x5mm
Aquamarine is a tranquil blue-to-greenish-blue hued variety of beryl. While trace amounts of chromium or vanadium turn beryl into a deep green emerald, trace amounts of iron turn it into the icy blue of aquamarine.
Named after the Latin phrase for "water of the sea," it is a highly coveted gemstone with a rich history rooted in mythology and geology alike. Ancient Roman and Greek sailors carried aquamarine amulets to protect them from the perils of the sea. They believed the gem fell from the treasure chests of mermaids and would calm rough waves.
Aquamarine is the official birthstone for March
In 1971, Colorado named aquamarine its official state gemstone. Some of the finest, deepest blue, gem-quality aquamarine crystals are found at high elevations in Colorado, particularly on Mount Antero and White Mountain.
Aquamarine is found all over the world, but it primarily forms in pegmatites—coarse-grained igneous rocks that act as geological incubators, allowing large, flawless crystals to grow over millions of years.
Hardness 7.5-8
These beads are cut, drilled and polished in China
Heating beads is a very common form of enhancement and is used to affect desired alterations of color and/or clarity. Heating can also be used to lighten or darken a stone. Heat is one of the conditions that cause gems to form, whether in the ground or in a lab. Heating occurs during natural gem formation. But heating applied to the stone after gem formation is an enhancement.
Matte beads have a velvety or frosted surface, rather than a shiny or reflective surface. These stones undergo additional tumbling that require knowledge of the material and skill. Each stone type requires a different amount of time in the tumbler depending on the material's hardness and characteristics. The matte finish also creates a variation in color from the traditional finish of the bead.
